Diabetes distress: Does blood sugar control affect quality of life?

A BSTRACT Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM), a chronic disease, can severely impact the emotional, physical, and social aspects of an individual’s quality of life (QoL). The relationship between diabetes distress syndrome (DDS) and glycemic control is critical to improve the QoL of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Objective: The objectives of this study are to determine the prevalence and severity of diabetic dyslipidemia syndrome (DDS) in adults with T2DM and to assess its association with glycemic control by measuring glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Furthermore, determining various demographic factors that could influence the relationship between DDS and glycemic control (HbA1c) is necessary to understand how it is linked with QoL. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted between September 2024 and March 2025 involving 400 patients aged 18–75 years who had T2DM for over 1 year. It was conducted at eight health centers in Bahrain. Data were collected using a validated questionnaire, which included the Diabetes Distress Scale-17 (DDS-17) to measure emotional, interpersonal, regimen-related, and healthcare professional-related distress, as well as the European Quality of Life 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D-5LV) to evaluate QoL. Results: Preliminary data analysis revealed that the mean age of participants was 55.43 ± 10.886 years, with 56.75% being males and the majority (78.5%) earning less than 1000 BD monthly. The prevalence of moderate to high DDS was notably elevated, correlating with suboptimal glycemic control as indicated by elevated HbA1c levels. According to our study, DDS is strongly associated with self-care behaviors that ultimately lead to more unhealthy outcomes. Conclusion: The current study highlights the critical concerns of psychological health improvement, as measured by DDS, in association with QoL and glycemic control among adults with T2DM. Early detection and intervention of diabetes-related distress (DDS) will improve QoL and reduce the burden of DM. Future research efforts should focus on developing comprehensive support programs that integrate mental health into diabetes management plans.